BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Definition of Research Instrument ADDITIONAL NOTES

Several definitions will be presented:

a. Is a tool used to gather data on a specific topic of

interest. (Sipacio & Barrot)
b. It is a generic term that the researcher used for a
measurement device (survey, test, questionnaire, etc.)
(Biddix,2017)
c. It can be classified into two broad categories as to who
answers them, fills them up or completes them.
-Researcher-Completed
-Subject-Completed

Valid and Reliable

Valid- directly answers or addresses your research questions.
Reliable- when it provides you consistent and stable data
over a period of time.

General Guidelines in Preparing an Instrument

1. Do a preliminary research by visiting your library or
checking online sources.
2. Talk to a person who is knowledgeable in preparing
research instrument.
3. Master the guidelines in preparing and administering Reflection
each type of instrument.
4. Clarify your research question.Be sure that your
instrument will directly address your specific research
question.
5. Based on the data you need,decide on the number of
people whom you want as respondents or participants.
6. Prepare the instrument using the appropriate format.
Get model instruments,if necessary. You may visit Google
Scholar to get sample of your intended instrument.
7. Edit your instrument.
8. Pilot your instrument to further improve its quality.After
receiving the feedback from your pilot,make the necessary.

Survey
a. It contains planned questions which are used to
measure attitudes, perceptions, and opinions.
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b. It contains responses directly related to each specific

research question.It can be a form of interview or ADDITIONAL NOTES
questionnaire
Three Types of Survey
Recall- ask for specific information such as years of service,
age, and service.
Recognition- ask a response for a specific question;multiple
choice, dichotomous[yes/no], and rating scale format.
Open-ended - elicit brief explanations or impressions from
the respondents

Interview
a. Is an instrument that allows the researcher to
qualitatively gather data.It is usually open-ended.
b. Is a data collection strategy in which participants are
asked to talk about the area under conclusion.

Different Stages of Interview

Pre-interview stage- it is when an interview guide is
prepared and respondents are identified and contacted.
Warm-up stage- it is the initial part of the interview when
questions that will make respondents more at ease are
asked.
Main interview stage- it is when the main questions directly
related to the research questions are asked.
Closing stage- it is when questions are ask to wind down the
interview and respondents are acknowledged and thanked.

Kinds of Interview
Unstructured/in-depth- researcher ask the respondent a
general question. It can also be a direct interaction between
the researcher and respondents
Semi-structured- slightly more focused agenda
Structured- pre-determined and ask to all subjects.
Focus groups- interviews of group of people with something
in common in experiences or interests. -

Guidelines when Conducting an Interview

1. Before the interview,arrange your questionnaire logically
to make the flow of the interview smoother.
2. Begin by conducting yourself and the purpose of the
interview.
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3. Tell the respondents that you will handle the information

with utmost confidentiality and care.
4. Have a warm-up stage to make the respondents more
comfortable. Questions such as "how was your day" can be ADDITIONAL NOTES
asked for this purpose.
5. Adjust your language so that of the respondents'.
6. Make the length of the interview reasonable. Otherwise,
your respondents might get bored or annoyed.
7. Record the interview because you may need to transcribe
the gathered data. However, make sure you inform or get
the approval of the interviewee.
8. Always thank the respondents for their time.

ADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW
-high response rate
-allows probing
-can clarify items to be asked
-does not require participants to read and write lengthily
-can address complex questions

DISADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEW
-time consuming
-expensive
-difficult to analyze data
-requires transcription

Questionnaire
It can be defined as:
a. a predefined set of questions, assembled in a pre -
determined order.
b. It lists questions to get specific information.
c. Are handy when the researcher is trying to collect
information from large numbers of people.

Who Answers the Questionnaire?

Questionnaire can be:

1. Self-administered
2. Researcher administered

Characteristics of the Questions ADDITIONAL NOTES

According to (Peterson,2000),each questions should be:
1. Brief
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2. Relevant
3. Unambiguous
4. Specific
5. Objective

Part of a Questionnaire

1. Personal information section- age, name,date of birth,

address,and other personal info about the respondent
2. Basic questions section- to established that you are
asking is the right person for the study.
-to established rapport with the interviewees.
3. Main question section-contains questions that are directly
related to your research.
4. Open-ended questions section- ask for a brief
explanation or response to an open-ended question.

ADVANTAGES OD QUESTIONNAIRE
-least expensive
-least tine consuming
-flexible in terms of administration(online or offline)
-may generate more consistent responses -easier to
analyze data
-involves more number of participants

DISADVANTAGES OF QUESTIONNAIRE
-has the lowest response rate
-does not generally provide opportunity for respondents to
clarify questions/items
-requires the participants to read and write

Observation
- allows the description of behavior in a naturalistic or
laboratory setting.

Types of Observation

Participant and Non-participant

Structured and Unstructured
Structure Observation-

Unstructured Observation
Covert Observation
Overt Observation ADDITIONAL NOTES

Guidelines in Conducting an Observation

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1. Develop an observation guide or checklist which identifies the phenomenon you

want to understand.
2. Decide on the type of observation that you will use.
3. Know your limitations as an observer. 4. Use a recording device when
appriopriate.
5. Always bring paper and pen with you to record other
details which cannot be recorded by a video or audio
recorder.
6. Never attempt to influence the behavior of your subjects.
7. Always observe ethics when implementing an observation
instrument.

ADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION
-provides direct access to a phenomenon
-applicable to a wide range of context
-complements other instruments

DISADVANTAGES OF OBSERVATION
-provides no control for situation
-may be biased -does not provide data for a more stable
conclusion
-time consuming
-may influence data because of observer's effects

Experiment
- is a procedure undertaken scientifically and systematically
to make a discover and to test hypothesis.
-It can be performed in a laboratory or in natural setting.

Steps in Performing Experiment

1. Make observation.
2. Develop the hypothesis.
3. Design the experiment.
4. Conduct the experiment.
5. Analyze the reports.
6. Decide on whether to accept or reject the hypothesis
based on the results.

Guidelines in Conducting an Experiment

ADDITIONAL NOTES
1.Always coordinate with a laboratory technician or
supervisor when doing an experiment
2.Make yourself present and accessible during an
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experiment
3.Maintain a relaxed and professional atmosphere
4.Clean the experiment venue(e,g., laboratory)as you leave 5.Never coerce any
participants in your experiment.
6.If you need participants in your experiment,let them fill out an informed consent
form (ICF) beforehand.it is a document proving that the participant voluntarily and
willingly participated in the experiment.
7.Ensure the safety of everyone involved at all times.
8.Ensure the anonymity of participants
9.Ensure the confidentiality of all gathered data.

ADVANTAGES OF EXPERIMENT
-provides control for situation and variables
-establishes cause and effect
-can be replicated
-yields quantitative data that can be statistically analyzed

DISADVANTAGES OF EXPERIMENT
-may result in an artificial situation
-prone to experimenter's effects